Fake NBA Trade of the Day 6/22/16: Gallo to Toronto

Every day, Pick and Popovich will post one fake trade and explain why it makes sense for every team involved to make it. There are no parameters beyond fitting within the salary cap. Sometimes the trades will involve stars, others role players. They are not grounded in actual rumors, they just make sense on paper. During the 2016 NBA Playoffs, each week will feature seven fake trades of one star player. This is Danilo Gallinari Week.

Denver Nuggets Receive:

Terrence Ross

Patrick Patterson

No. 27 Overall Pick

Toronto Raptors Receive:

Danilo Gallinari

Why Denver would make this trade: Ross isn’t the player he should be, but he’s still a useful young two-way forward when he’s engaged, and the No. 27 pick gives them another piece that fits into their long-term timeline.

Why Toronto would make this trade: With Kyle Lowry’s ability to guard bigger players, the Raptors could switch 1-4 defensively and Gallinari adds a nice dash of passing and shooting to an offense that needs both. It hurts their bench, but that’s what the mid-level exception is for.